Cigar-box cabinet.



J. J. MOGARTHY.

CIGAR BOX CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR Jhv'v c7. 7729 (fa/r275 1. A [/k I V '1 Allomey COLUMBIA PLANDGBAPN CO" WASHINGTON. D c

J. J. MoGARTHY.

CIGAR BOX CABINET. APIILICATION FILED MAY17,1912,7 1 ()39, 1 63 Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

2 SHEBTB'BHEET 2.

WITNESSES [N VEN TOR I A Atlorney L LUMIHA PLANOORAPN COnWASNINGTON, v. c.

JOHN J. MCCARTHY, 0F YARDLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIGAR-BOX CABINET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 17, 1912.

Serial No. 698,082.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN J. MCCARTHY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yardley, in the county of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Box Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cabinets, particularly to cigar box cabinets.

Cigar dealers, individuals, and others handling cigars in boxes frequently leave the lid of the cigar box open or after they remove the usual fastening tack from the lid, the lid does not close down tightly on the box especially on the forward edge of the same. Whether the lid be left entirely open or slightly ajar, there is sure to be an escape of the aroma from the cigar box with the result that the cigars gradually lose their natural flavor, and quickly lose it if the atmosphere is dry. It is not convenient to replace the fastening tack every time the box is opened to extract a cigar, and, for this reason, when the fastening tack is once removed it is usually thrown away. If the lid is not fastened down tightly the lid is apt to warp and cause the same to remain ajar even when thrown to a closed position with the result that the cigars become dry, crumble and. lose their strength and flavor.

It is therefore one object of my invention to provide a cabinet for use in restaurants, hotels, stores, private residences or other places, embodying such characteristics that a cigar box may be readily inserted therein or removed therefrom, and when inserted have its lid held down tightly on the box to prevent the escape of the aroma and insure the remaining cigars in the box retaining their natural flavor.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cabinet having therein means adapted to be operated automatically upon insertion of the cigar box to engage the lid of the latter and clamp the lid down tightly on the box to protect the cigars from air, dust or other foreign matter and to prevent the escape of aroma from the box.

Another object resides in the provision of a cabinet which may be fastened to a counter or other support or which may be portable so that it may be movably positioned at any convenient place, with means adjustably mounted in the cabinet to be thrown into operative position upon the insertion of the cigar box to engage the lid only at its front and rear edges for the purpose of binding or clamping the lid on the box to prevent the ingress of air or dust therein or the escape of the aroma from the box.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in. the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion, size and minor details without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. -il is a front view of a plurality of cabinets. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the plurality of cabinets. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the cigar box in side elevation. F S is a transverse sectional view.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the reference character (3 indicates a box-like cabinet provided at each end with a slot 7 in which may be mounted for vertical adjustment, a rod 8 provided at one end with a head 9 with its opposite end screw threaded to receive a nut 10 whereby the rod 8 may be held in difierent adjusted positions in the slots 7 for the purpose of accommodating cigar boxes 11 of different heights in the cabinet. This rod may be otherwise formed if desired so long as it is in the nature of a rod or shaft and so long as it is preferably provided with means whereby the rod may be adjusted in the slots 7 for the purpose stated.

Cigar box lid engaging means is preferably supported on the rod 8. In the present instance, clamping members 12 are swingingly mounted on the rod 8 and are held in spaced relation from the ends of the cabinet and from each other by means of suitable spacing sleeves 13. These clamping members 12 have a somewhat peculiar shape and are swingingly mounted on the rod 8 intermediate their ends off from the center thereof with the inner ends of the clamping members heavier 0r weighted so that when the cigar box 11 is removed from Patented Sept. 24, 1912. v

the cabinet the outer smaller or substantially knifelike edges 12 of the ends of the clamping members 12 may be thrown toward the top of the cabinet, as may be seen by reference to the three lowermost compartments of the modified form shown in Fig. 5 so that the cigar box may be readily inserted.

The lower edges of the clamping members 12 are preferably curved as indicated at 14 so that the clamping members engage the lid 11 of the box at the forward and front edges only, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 rather than engage the lid of the box intermediate its edges in which event the clamping action of the clamping members 12 would tend to cause warping or inward bulging of the lids which would injure cigars if the box were filled and which would ten d to lift the forward edge of the lid from the front of the box and thereby not effect an efiicient closing of the lid on the box as is the case where the clamping members 12 engage only the rear and front edges of the lid, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, the clamping members 12 have a gravitating movement and when the cabinet 6 is in proper position the weighted inner ends of the clamping members 12 move downwardly with the result that the forward ends of the clamping members are thrown upwardly, as hereinbefore stated.

When the cigar box 11 is out of the cabinet and it is desired to insert the same, it will be understood that the outer ends of the clamping members 12 are forced automatically upward to give ample space for the insertion of the cigar box. These clamping members 12 are not shifted on the rod 8 by the inward movement of the cigar box 11 until the cigar box has entered part way into the cabinet when the rear upper edge of the cigar box will engage the curved part '14 of the clamping members 12 and cause the latter, by the continued inward movement of the cigar box, to move upwardly, swinging on the rod .8, and gradually causing the forward ends of the clamping mem bers to be thrown downwardly on to the lid of the box at the forward edge of the latter. When the cigar box has been forced back into the cabinet a sufficient distance,

the forward ends of the clamping members will bind tightly on the lid of the cigar box preferably substantially over the front wall of the cigar box and bind the lid tightly on the box to prevent. the escape of aroma and to insure the cigars retaining their natu ral flavor.

When it is desired to remove the cigar box 11 from engagement with the clamping means herein described, it is only necessary to place the thumb on the top of the box between the clamping members 12 and one or more fingers against the underside of the bottom of the box and simply pull outwardly on the latter. T 0 permit a firm engagement with the bottom of the box by one or all of the fingers, I prefer to cut out the edge of the box of the cabinet as indicated at 15.

Whether the cabinet 6 be fastened on a shelf or counter or be loose so that it may be moved from one place to'another, the cabinet may or may not be positioned to display the front side of the box. Very often cigar boxes have the names of the cigars contained in the boxes on the front side thereof. Therefore, the name of the ci 'ars, if the same be on the front side of the box, may be displayed by properly positioning the cabinet. As a matter of fact, the back 6 could be entirely removed from the cabinet if desired so that if the name of the cigar should be on the back of the cigar box it might be seen by a prospective purchaser. In any event, the cabinet may be constructed of any kind of wood and highly polished if desired or, if preferred. the cabinet may be formed of sheet or other metal. The clamping members may be formed of any suitable material and obviously the clamping members and the box itself may be of any suitable size.

In Figs. 4 and 5 there is shown a modified form of the invention. For instance, there is shown a cabinet provided with a plurality of shelves 16 forming a plurality of compartments 17 in each of which compartments 1'? may be mounted in the same 1nannor as in the first mentioned form of the invention the same means for holding the lid of the cigar box 11 tightly on the box. The shelves 16 would be preferably provided with the notched portions 15 for the same purpose as the notch 15 is employed in the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. Obviously, a plurality of cabinets, such as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, could be arranged in superimposed relation to form a series of separate cabinets to be placed one on top of another or side by side as may be desired. A cigar box cabinet of that form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, is particularly adaptable for use by individuals in private residences for it would insure the cigars retaining their natural. flavor and obviating the necessity of placing a book or other heavy article on the lid of the box to keep the same closed tightly on the box.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 there is shown still another modification of the invention. In this instance the compartment 18 is preferably narrower than the compartments shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and the cigar box 19 is adapted to be inserted into the cabinet 18 endwise. This form of the invention in many instances is preferred to either of the other forms described, in that manufacturers of cigars frequently, if not generally,

place the name of the cigars on the end of the box and it is my purpose in this third form of the invention to so display the goods that the customer may readily see the various kinds of cigars in stock. In other respects, this form of the invention is substantially the same as the one first described. Instead of two clamping members I employ but one clamping member 20, which is preferably the same form as the clamping members 12 hereinbefore described, but preferably a little longer and mounted on a shaft 21 adjustably disposed in slots 22 in the sides of the cabinet 18 and held adjustably in the slots by means of a thumb nut 23 or in any other suitable manner, there being spacing sleeves 24: to hold the clamping member 20 preferably centrally of the cabinet 18. In this third form the box is inserted into the cabinet endwise as has been stated and the inner end of the cigar box engages the rear weighted end of the clamp 20 and forces the outer end of the latter down into tight engagement: with the lid 25 of the cigar box when the latter is inserted all the way into the cabinet.

WVhat is claimed is 1. A cabinetof the character described, including ends provided with alining slots, a rod adjustably mounted in said slots, and spaced clamping members swingingly mounted 0-11 said rod, the inner ends of the clamping members being heavier than the outer ends thereof.

2. A cabinet of the character described including ends provided with alining slots, a rod adjustably mounted in said slots, clamping members swingingly mounted on the rod and disposed within the cabinet, and spacing collars on the rod to hold the clamping members in spaced relation to the ends of the cabinet and with relation to each other, the bottom of the cabinet being notched.

3. A box-like cabinet having a forward open side, a rod extending through the boxlike cabinet, clamping members swingingly mounted on said rod, the inner ends of the clamping members being heavier than the outer ends thereof to throw the outer ends of the clamping members normally toward the top of the box-like cabinet.

4. A box-like cabinet having a forward open side, through which may be inserted a cigar box, a rod extending through the boxlike cabinet and adjustable therein and clamping members swingingly mounted on said rod and adapted to be actuated by the insertion of the cigar box into the box-like cabinet to cause the clamping members to bind tightly on the cigar box adjacent the front and rear sides of the latter.

5. A cabinet of the character described having one open side for the insertion and removal of a cigar box, a rod extending through the cabinet, and a clamping member mounted on said rod and adapted to be actuated by the cigar box on the insertion of the latter to cause opposite ends of the clamping member to bind tightly on the lid of the cigar box at the front and rear sides of the latter.

6. A cabinet of the character described having an open side for the insertion and removal of a cigar box, and means swingingly mounted within the cabinet for engagement with the lid of the cigar box when the latter is inserted in the cabinet, said means engaging the lid of the cigar box at the front and rear sides only of the cigar box and adapted to clamp the lid tightly on to the box.

7. A cabinet having an opening therein to receive a cigar box, a rod extending through the cabinet, a clamping member swingingly mounted on said rod, the inner end of the clamping member being heavier than the outer end thereof to throw the outer end of the clamping member normally toward the top of the cabinet. the inner end of the clamping member being thrown upwardly upon engagement therewith of a cigar box when inserted through said opening to throw the outer end of the clamping member down tightly on the lid of the box.

8. A cabinet having an opening therein through which a cigar box may be inserted or withdrawn from the cabinet, a clamping member swingingly mounted in said cabinet, the inner end of the clamping member being heavier than the outer end thereof to throw the outer end of the clamping member normally toward the top of the cabinet, the inner end of the clamping member being thrown upwardly upon engagement thereof with a cigar box when inserting it through the opening to throw the outer end of the clamping member down tightly on the lid of the box.

9. A cabinet having an opening therein through which a cigar box may be inserted or withdrawn from the cabinet, a clamping member swingingly mounted in the cabinet, the inner end of the clamping member being thrown upwardly upon engagement thereof with a cigar box when the latter is inserted through said opening to throw the outer end of the clamping member down tightly on the lid of the box.

In testimony whereof I a'tfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. MCCARTHY.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN F. DONOVAN, J12, THOMAS RA'UGIIN.

Gopies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

